Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-02-23
THE Old GRAY ROCK.


~ HowA1D <. KNOX.
~ ~ - = ofsat cray stone, very close
~ ~ how o0bbtng music OF the waves,
lcokln9 Tn On old Oceans crested bill
1owo, heS dlmpls0 check resting in one soft
Eeey palms while . 1as.Away look bsaued
= ~ passtonate, soul-thriiling eyes.
EIise 6nou had had her dream Of love,
m + AAd secedsd further and still further
evsS from hss, until il had Almost faded
from eight. Three years ago Gerald Bou-
tells I'D spent the summer in the village
u Casslston, rseaining his health, lost BY
and WANING : heart that was far too pure
and eo10ding for association with such q
man. Il had BEEN the same sweet, be-.
guilinG Story told By the old gray rock, the
cane worthless promises, the same heart
hssaking parting. that are 20 familiar to
~, and with many . sad experience.
For one yeaF innocent Elise looked for
his coming with faithful trusting, waiting
for = ~ord from the absent one. But the
word mover eame. He was not false, Elise
thought, bat dead. He would never return
q her. but she could 70 to him with the
lingering dew Of the first love.kiss fresh
upon her Hips. Did she regret the bright
summer that had come and gone, leaving
only n aching voidf No, NO; far from ii.
Had Gerald Boutelle, with his irresistible
blonde beauty. never crossed her path the
throne y her heart had been erected for
naught; the crown.jewel, studded with de-
votton and faith, left to crumble away and
fern. . ruined and tenantless ediAce.
The foamy waves swept higher and
hiGhe1, until they almost touched the hem
q her dainty muslin dress, while the spray
dashed . shower Of sparkling diamonds
over the dark haired maiden, still looking
out and dreaming OF the future-not an
eeethly future, but . bright hereafter far
mp and beyond the blue sky that seemed to
dip IL aaure mantle In the dancing waves.
A tiny white speck caught Elise's eye,
md shs watched It mechanically - il came
neaSef 10 he shore.
Soon the low, mournful boom Of a
signal gum announced . ship In distress.
In an instant the fearful storm Of the
night befers occurred to her mind, and she
knew full we'll that this must be some no.
BIZ ship tha4 bad received ita death warrant
from tie old ssorm-king, and was aimlessly
drifting with the tide.
BY tks tims the second gun had sounded
IT. mousnful call the beach was thronging
with Dagger villagers, ready to do and dare
70 SAVE the lives ON the doomed shipl
The boats were soon launched, manned,
and ready 70 start-in fact, were pushing
c6-when Elise sprang forward. begging
70 70 With them.
Thsss vas no danger, she argued, and
~ might possibly Be Of some assistance.
The slightest wish of little Snowbird, a.
~ Villagers called her, wal an unquestion-
aLis command " them, and she was per-
NIT a v 60
They soon reached the ship. and Elise
vas hfted on board, eager to do something
70 prove to all that they could not have
gotten along without her.
Down In the cabin all WAS confusion.
Each was anxious 10 be first to leave the
sinking ship. and, since help had come, all
wanted 70 lake come priced luggage. and in
their ea9ernesa Thought 1t possible.
said sali;s mo 50. Away 10 the extreme
end OF the cabin . little group attracted
Elise's attention.
A beauti al lady, whose fair hair swept
the door. lay ~ = sofa, while a gentleman,
clAaping = wee toddling ono in his arms,
knsit with bowed bead. careless Of all
arOund.
Mas II instinct or true womanly sympathy
that caused Elise to turn from those self
reliant ones and ofEer her assistance to the
bowed form before herr
A. the little one, who could not fully
understand it, fathers trouble, caught sight
Of Elise, Il stretched forth its dimpIed
hand., crying. aPspa, lady tum an help
mAmma.
A The words Of the child the gentleman
raised his bowed head and looked MP.
sLittie Elise! Snowhirdl" no cried. sIs
~ thus We meet again?"
livery pulse Of her body stood still, then
burned end quivsred with fever.heat. She
tried to steady her voice, but failed.
sGerald. who il itf-and i it death2"
He would have given worlds, II it were
possible, II he could have tru hfully nm.
swered: s6he 10 my sister," but with those
honest, aoul.ssarching eyes looking into
hi be coald mot deny the mother OF his
child. @ehe Was my wife, Snowbird, and
nov our 1ittle D ID mothsrless.n
~Oh, Gerald!r
Elise aid no more. but al the words in
The English language could mot have de-
scribed her feelings better. Reproaeh. sur.
prise, almest unbslief, arrayed themselves
In Inst one pitiiul cry.
She turned away her head. She could
not endure the sight Of that fair, cold
though shs wsrs cold in death. What
could Il meanf Had he been false? A low
moan Of anguish told how bitter that
thought would Be. No, no; it could not
b.! Circumstances had forced him to
marry another. He could explain all, she
knew.
Then voman's staudard-faith-came to
H. rsscue. and she put forth her hand.
while her low. sweet voice caused Gerald
- leok up aeain.
s0srsld, 4 4 III svsr. May help you
nowfs
H did not need 70 inquire what waa all
over. Too veil he knew the struggle that
hnd swept like an overwhelming flood over
that trembling soul. and left nothing but
pity and forgiveness.
He could mot understand; 1t did not seem
possible that any oma could love a man
! , un.slts.hly, that, after he had wrecked
hss nfe, abe could, under the trying circum-
otances, 0lker her assistance without . word
u rspsoach.
sYos. Elise; you may help me. Take
ny baby. girl, and Heaven will bless you.
snut y0u mast come, Gerald. There ID
yoon fee ~ II The boat We will take the
lady a. shess and bury her there
E1ise eou1d mot ny ~your wife" YET; the
vean1 - 20 dep ths blow had been
IN rave orders for Ire removal Of the
aoad. Win 0efaldis baby clasped close in
~ axms, like onA talking In her sleep.
r. vao IN like & troubled dream that she
uns1 Awnken nom soon.
ehs nsves rightly semsmbered how they
yeaohod the shosG and what happened aftel
-kow 0esald's wife was laid 70 rcst by the
ola cray rn6k; they said It had been hei
utgks natAing sesmed real bat Gerald q
~ old tryst-placs By her side.
Gha ha6 cone out to the rock tonight
tx ~ lint time since she had saf and
iis1sned4e ~ siGnal-gun from the sinking
hip.
~ ~ ~ reviewing u best she could
~ lass foes days. Gerald eame and stood
~ ~ -. looking . pale and worn.
sEtfse, + AAve sOmeahing t. tell you. = be
pafd, sjtting down By her side. sArs you
TjIltne ta3tssen9s.
~. 0e1ald. I IN willing to listen, : she
M, slpa1Hue ~ words IN : low, carsss-
4r99le I. t!esteasl should know how
14@ c7oBAe be6in tbrss yesss 40,
yh1a1 aI4At16l6 stofs Aoldfhe youl
c4d ~ SAYING ~ word fars.
~ Sous. I tnisndsd - harm